Konstellation launch programme

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The programme for the launch concert of Konstellation has been announced!  I am delighted to be joined by an outstanding selection of musicians (and friends!) for this initial concert: Aoife Miskelly (soprano), Anna Huntley (mezzo-soprano), John Slack (clarinet) and Cara Berridge (cello). The programme will include Schubert's delightful Shepherd on the Rock, beautiful songs by Schubert and Brahms, and Brahms' passionate Clarinet Trio.  Hosted by Bob and Elisabeth Boas, this concert takes place on 9th January; do use the contact form to enquire about booking.

Stealing, Borrowing, Remembering

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Last night saw another triumphant concert in the Berkeley Ensemble's 'Stealing, Borrowing, Remembering' series at The Forge, including Stravinsky's relatively rarely-heard neo-classical Septet (for violin, viola, cello, clarinet, horn, bassoon and piano).  Usually if there is piano in the ensemble's programmes, it tends to feature quite heavily, so it was a rare treat yesterday to be able to watch the rest of the programme –  absolutely beautiful playing from the strings in Mozart and Britten Divertimenti, a rich and energetic Lennox Berkeley Sextet, and a sublime rendition of Mozart's Clarinet Quintet to close.

Eton

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A very full few weeks of accompanying at Eton, with exams, competitions and concerts left, right and centre!  Great to see a huge number of boys taking part and playing at a very high standard.

Auditions

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Audition season as an official accompanist has well and truly kicked off, with a solid weekend just spent playing for the European Opera Centre's auditions, then woodwind auditions at the Guildhall today, and then a hectic patch of singer/opera auditions at the Academy over the next few weeks.  Sightreading brain into gear…

Konstellation

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Excited to announce the launch of Konstellation, which I am establishing in 2013 to champion the combined programming possibilities of song and chamber music in recital. These two areas of repertoire are so often kept apart, yet in fact feed beautifully into one another –  drawing together text and abstract music in complimentary and contrasting ways.  We have an exciting programme of concerts and possible residencies coming together already! The launch concert for all of this will be held on Wednesday 9th January at the extremely elegant home of Bob and Elisabeth Boas on Mansfield Street in London. They host a regular and high-flying series of concerts in their beautiful recital room – if you haven't been before, it's an experience in itself!

Woodwind weekend

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Never have I seen so many oboists and bassoonists in one place as at the RNCM's Wind Weekend!  Manufacturers, reeds, performances and masterclasses everywhere…  Amongst a starry line-up – a who's who of the double-reed world –  James Turnbull and I gave two recitals in the college's excellent concert hall, of mostly English music, partly previewing the repertoire on our forthcoming recital disc (to be released by Champs Hill Records).

Durham

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Currently up in Durham producing a CD in the cathedral. Organist Tom Bell is recording a disc of Elgar, Bliss and Williamson on the magnificent cathedral instrument, to be released by Regent in due course.  

Romantic Oboe

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Back from a brief but action-packed trip to Cornwall, with oboist James Turnbull. Our 'Romantic Oboe' recital at the Roseland Music Society was preceded by two school workshops during the day, working with children aged 4-11 at Gorran and St Mawes primary schools. We played to them and spoke about the instruments, as well as leading a session where they composed their own Carnival of the Animals! It was a delight to work with such friendly and responsive children, and great also to see children in the audience in the evening. 

Oxford Lieder Festival

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As ever an absolute joy to be back at the wonderful Oxford Lieder Festival this week, this time leading a composition workshop alongside mezzo-soprano Ciara Hendrick and university composition professors Robert Saxton and Martyn Harry. Undergraduate and postgraduate Oxford composition students had chosen an array of poems, and set them in a great variety of musical styles. We spent a full couple of hours discussing details of helpful voice setting, idiomatic piano writing, clarity of notation, and interpretation of poems, with an audience of composers, students and interested festival onlookers! 

Robert Sherlaw Johnson

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Great to be back in Oxford, for a concert in memory of composer Robert Sherlaw Johnson, consisting of his music and hosted by the music faculty.  Lovely to be playing there with violinist Mandhira de Saram, in the same hall as we first performed in together as undergraduates at Oxford!